battery safety

Amprius (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. was penalized by the Wuxi Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau with fines and confiscations of approximately 3.74 million yuan ($520,000 USD) for selling non-compliant power bank batteries. The investigation revealed the company sold improperly certified batteries, failed to re-certify products after material changes, and continued sales during certification suspensions. The crackdown follows recalls of power banks due to fire risks and raises concerns about Amprius’s quality control and its impact on brands like Anker, Romoss, Xiaomi, Ugreen, and Baseus.

A recent incident in China highlights safety concerns surrounding low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs). A parked EV, not recently charged, spontaneously combusted inside a home, resulting in its complete destruction. Online commentators identified the vehicle as a potentially substandard “Old Man’s Joy,” a type of LSEV known for lacking proper manufacturing standards and safety features. The incident underscores the need for stricter regulations in China’s rapidly expanding EV market to protect consumers from unsafe products.